The roka ceremony went on smoothly. Adhya and Vikram looked great together—a lovely couple. Everyone seemed happy, but my mind was stuck on one thing.

That cut on Vikram's face.

Did Akash Ji really hit him? But why?

At first, Vikram seemed annoyed. But then, when he looked at Adhya, everything changed. His entire demeanor softened. Adhya, on the other hand, looked concerned for him, her eyes filled with worry. But Vikram reassured her with a big, warm smile, as if telling her everything was okay.

Soon, they would be leaving for their village. Their wedding date was fixed—just three weeks from now.

I helped Maa pack their necessities for the journey, arranging clothes and food for their travel.

After a while, a strange discomfort settled over me, a familiar uneasiness.

"I'll be back in a minute," I told Maa, quickly excusing myself.

I rushed upstairs to my room, heading straight to the bathroom.

Uff... okay. False alarm.

I let out a deep breath of relief and stepped out.

The moment I entered my room, I gasped, startled.

There he was—sitting on the edge of my bed, hands resting on either side, completely at ease. But instead of the usual storm in his eyes, there was something else—relief.

A wide, playful grin spread across his face as he leaned back slightly.

I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

He patted the space beside him. "To spend time with my wife."

A warmth bloomed in my chest at his words. Wife. It still felt unreal.

I shook my head, trying to keep my composure. "We can, but we should be downstairs right now."

I took a step forward, but before I could react, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him.

"Akash Ji—!"

In one swift motion, I fell onto the bed, and before I knew it, he was on top of me.

His eyes gleamed mischievously as he leaned in, pressing quick, playful kisses all over my face.

"I love you, I love you, I love you, Avuuu!" he murmured between kisses, his voice filled with warmth.

I burst into laughter, wiggling under him as his beard tickled my skin.

"Haha! Hehehe! Akash Ji, bas kijiye!" I giggled, trying to push him away, but he only tightened his hold.

Then, suddenly, he cupped my cheeks, his gaze turning serious.

And before I could say another word, his lips captured mine in a deep, lingering kiss.

He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against mine. "I love you," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.

A rush of warmth filled my heart. Without hesitation, I placed my hands on his cheeks, pulled him closer, and kissed him the same way.

"I love you too," I whispered against his lips.

It was the first time I said it out loud. But in my heart, I had always known.

From the moment he respected my choices. From the moment he fought for me, stood by me, cared for me. And above all—loved me with everything he had.

I couldn't be luckier.

He is angry and terrifying to others, but he is soft and loving with me.

He looked shocked, his eyes widening as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"That's the first time you're saying it..." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled softly, my heart swelling with warmth. "And it won't be the last."

Before he could say anything else, I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his left eye. 

"I love you."

Then his right eye. "I love you."

The tip of his nose. "I love you."

His left cheek. "I love you."

His right cheek. "I love you."

His chin. "I love you."

And finally, his forehead, letting my lips linger for a moment. "I love you."

With every kiss, his expression softened, the corners of his lips curving into the gentlest, most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

I pulled back just slightly, my gaze locking with his. "I love you, Akash Ji."

The moment I said it, he exhaled deeply, as if letting go of something heavy. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer, his touch firm yet tender.

Slowly, I leaned in again, my lips brushing against his.

At first, it was just a whisper of a touch—featherlight, hesitant, savoring the moment.

Then, he responded. His lips moved against mine with a slow, deep intensity, tasting, exploring, memorizing every second.

One of his hands slid up my back, his fingers threading into my hair, holding me gently in place. The other rested on my waist, his thumb tracing small, soothing circles over the fabric of my saree.

I sighed into the kiss, melting into his warmth, my arms wrapping around his neck as I let myself drown in the sensation of him—his warmth, his scent, the way he kissed me like I was something precious, something he wanted to cherish forever.

When we finally pulled apart, breathless but smiling, he rested his forehead against mine.

"Say it again," he whispered, his voice deep, husky.

I giggled, running my fingers through his hair. "I love you, Akash Ji."

I pushed him off me and quickly stood up, adjusting my saree.

He blinked, completely dumbfounded, still sitting on the bed.

"We need to be downstairs," I gestured toward the door, trying to sound firm.

Akash groaned, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Why do you always ruin our great moments, Avani?" he grumbled.

I rolled my eyes, placing a hand on my hip. "I'm going. You come when you want to."

With that, I turned on my heel and lunged toward the door.

But then I hesitated. Stopping in my tracks, I turned back toward him, narrowing my eyes.

"By the way... what happened to Vikram's face?"

His expression shifted instantly—from playful to... guilty? His body tensed, and before I could even blink, he abruptly stood up and sprinted past me.

"We need to be downstairs, Avani! Let's go, come on!" he blurted out, practically fleeing the room.

I stared at his retreating figure, my mouth falling open.

Oh. My. God.

He really did beat him.

-----------------------

As everyone left, I stood near the entrance, watching the carts disappear into the distance.
Dadi's sharp voice cut through.

"Hum Vikram ke liye kitna kuch bhej rahe hain! Sone ke gehne, naye kapde, bartan, aur toh aur ek nayi sawari bhi!"
(We are sending so much for Vikram! Gold jewelry, new clothes, utensils, and even a new vehicle!)

Bua sighed dramatically. "Haan, waise bhi ladki walon ka farz hota hai jamai ko acchi cheezein dena."
(Yes, after all, it's the bride's family's duty to give good gifts to the groom.)

Then, her gaze flickered toward me, her lips curling in distaste.

"Kuch log toh bina kuch laaye aa gaye. Bas sirf ek jootha rishta le kar."
(Some people came empty-handed... bringing nothing but a meaningless relationship.)

The taunt hit its mark, but I kept my face blank. I refused to let them see how much it hurt.

---------------------------------------

I quickly retreated upstairs with Adhya.

She had been blushing all afternoon, lost in her own world.

"What is it?" I finally asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"I need a telephone," she said hesitantly. "Will you ask Bhaiya to get one? But don't tell him it's for me."

I frowned. "We already have one. It's in the living room."

She shook her head. "No, I want one in my room."

"Why?" I asked, confused.

Instead of answering, she grabbed my hand and led me into her room, shutting the door behind us.

She hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Actually... you left, after tying my saree..."

 "Hmm?"

"Vikram Ji came here," she said, covering her face with her palms.

"WHAT?!" I nearly shouted, eyes wide.

"How?!Why?!" My voice rose in shock.
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Hey everyone!  Sorry for the late update. I'll be posting more soon. Stay tuned!